Patrolman
Kenneth Reid Lester
Richmond Police Department
Monday, February 10, 2020

Age: 62
Served: 14 years
Badge #: 149
Panel 49W, Line 32 (2021)
Panel L6, Line 14 (2021)

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Automobile accident
Date/Time of Incident:
Friday, February 17, 1995
12:45 am
Incident to Death Duration:
24 years, 358 days
Incident Location:
8th and H streets, Richmond
Incident County:
Wayne
Incident Township:
Wayne
Weapon Used:
None
Suspect Disposition:
Charges dismissed
Burial Place:
Earlham Cemetery, Richmond

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   Patrolman Kenneth Lester died from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident nearly 25 years earlier after responding to an alarm call at The Point Liquor store on Boston Pike.

   As he was traveling on South 8th Street southbound, the driver of a semitrailer next to him turned right from the left lane onto South H Street westbound and they collided. The patrol car of Patrolman Lester became wedged under the semitrailer, causing him severe injuries while his K-9 partner, Cheri, suffered minor injuries.

   A 35-year-old male driver was charged with failure to signal a lane change, which were subsequently dismissed.

   Patrolman Lester was initially taken to Reid Hospital before being airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. On February 10, 2020, he passed away from complications of his injuries at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.

   Patrolman Lester had previously served with the Centerville Police Department. He was survived by his wife, Polly Jane (née Kaiser); son, Andrew Reid (Stephanie Toschlog); daughter, Kendra Lynn (Mark Smith); sisters, Susan (Mike) Cougill and Donita Lester. His father had served as an Indiana State Police trooper.

  

Historical Notes
• Patrolman Lester is the first of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2020.
• His is the fifth line of duty death of the Richmond Police Department.
• His line of duty death is the 12th that has originated from Wayne County.
• Patrolman Lester has the second-longest incident to line of duty death duration in Indiana.


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Patrolman Kenneth Reid Lester - Richmond Police Department - INLEM.org